Local News

As recommended by County Board Chairman Andy Wheeler, the Kankakee County Board finance committee slashed the pay for the board chairman Wednesday.

Wheeler was all for it – having his pay reduced in favor paying for a full-time finance director.

Wheeler says “it’s time to reduce the pay for the County Board Chairman.” Wheeler had suggested such a move before he was chairman. He wanted to free up money to pay for the newly-created finance director position.

Wheeler’s chairman’s pay is slashed $12,000 this year. It’ll be cut more in the next two years.

The finance director’s (Anita Speckman) pay starts at $75,000.

The finance committee (Wed) also suggested pay hikes for other office-holders. The sheriff, treasurer and county clerk will see 2% pay increases. Wheeler said those offices haven’t seen increases in the last few years.

The finance committee suggestions will be forwarded to the full county board.

It’s a ways from being a final draft, but the Ford County Board’s zoning committee is making suggested changes to revise the county’s regulations for wind farms. More meetings are planned before anything is presented to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission.

Several complaints from residents in the northern part of the county cited TV reception interference.

A five-member committee agreed to raise the minimum blade clearance from 15-feet to 50-feet.

Setbacks have caused friction. Also discussed were noise levels, and decommissioning requirements.

Wind farm study shows tax base increases ---

A News-Gazette analysis recently revealed that four wind farms in a three-county area have generated nearly $10-million in new tax revenue.

A total of 329 wind turbines in Champaign, Ford and Vermilion counties have helped pay the bills for township government, fire districts, school districts, junior colleges and park districts.

A section of Bethel Road in Bourbonnaiswill be closed beginning Monday. More road work includes the Bourbonnais sewer project. Bethel Road at Gettysburg Drive will be closed. A suggestion for motorists is to use Burns Road.On-street parking in the affected areas will not be allowed.

IN INDIANA ----the U.S. 231 bridge at Rensselaer is closed today (Wed) and for the next few months. The bridge re-build closes the route until mid-August. The closure is from Division Road to County Road 100 S.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has awarded $15.4 million in grants to 630 public libraries. The grants will help allow for buying more materials, updating equipment and adding more electronics.

Many of the public libraries in central Illinois have been awarded these grants in past years.

Fourteen families are getting help from the community of St. Anne after Saturday's fire that displaced nearly two-dozen people. The apartment building fire alerted 25 area fire departments. No reports of any serious injuries.

St. Anne Fire Chief Tim Douglas said the cause was undr investigation, believed to have started in a downstairs apartment.

Clothing and household items were collected Monday at the Community Center.

The St. Anne National Bank has set up an account to accept monetary donations. Checks can be sent to the St. Anne Victims Fund in c/o of the Bank at P.O. Box 380 in St. Anne, 60964.